1Over the next couple of weeks, Brightstar's treatment of Riversong did not improve. The old he-cat continually asked Trueheart to organize patrols and treated the dark warrior like he would his deputy. Riversong sunk her claws into the ground and gritted her fangs, but said nothing. All the others noticed it and tried to make it better. Trueheart went behind Brightstar's back to ask Riversong who should go on which patrol. Sleetfur declared that Riversong would have the choice of which of her kits she would mentor. Sunface play-fought with her to help Riversong get rid of the building stress in her life. It didn't change the fact that Brightstar was going senile, though.

One day, Riversong had had enough. She sprinted into Brightstar's den. "Brightstar, we need to talk," she meowed, "When Wingfoot was exiled, you chose me as your deputy. Slowly, but steadily, you've been ignoring me more and more. What is the meaning of this?"

"Oh...You see, Riversong, it's just that I'm not sure I made the right decision."

Riversong sat down hard. Her jaw dropped open. He had been so blunt. "You...what...?"

"I think I made a mistake. I was too full of emotion for you when I chose you as deputy. I thought that since you had exposed Wingfoot's treachery, you were ready for this sort of thing." He paused. "But, now that I think about it, you really aren't, just like you weren't ready for Sunpaw when he was your apprentice."

"Brightstar, I–"

"No." Brightstar stood up quickly. "No. Tell Trueheart to take over as deputy. You're a warrior again."

Riversong felt her hackles rise. She didn't bother trying to smooth them down. "All right," she meowed, "But understand that I'm not your warrior any more, Brightstar. Farewell, DuskClan. That's it. I'm a loner now." She streaked out of the den and ran right into Sunface.

The red tom shook his head. "Riv...er...song?" he mewed dazedly. With a few more shakes, he set his mind straight. "What's going on?"

"I'm leaving again, this time for good," Riversong replied loud enough for any cat in camp to hear, "Brightstar says making me deputy was his mistake. I won't stand for someone giving me responsibility, then slowly taking it back, then saying how they messed up giving it to me in the first place. I'm going to start my own Clan. To PlagueClan with Brightstar!" She turned and padded out of the camp.

Healingtouch and Seedgrowth, both of whom were outside the camp, returning from an herb-gathering mission, heard the whole thing. "Well?" Healingtouch prompted.

"Well, what, Healingtouch?" Seedgrowth asked.

"What are you waiting for? Go with her!"

"But Healingtouch, I–"

"No buts. You heard her. Riversong is starting her own Clan. If anything, she needs a medicine cat. And warriors, apprentices, and queens. Go back to camp and get..." The calico queen thought for a minute. "Get Sunface, Sleetfur, Blacktip, Heavenstep, Creekflow, Birdpaw, Mousepaw, Fishpaw, and Blazepaw."

Seedgrowth nodded. He wasn't about to go against his mentor's orders. He raced into the warriors' den. All the cats Healingtouch had asked him to gather were discussing the whole matter.

"I'm going with her!" Sunpaw declared, "I love Riversong. She cared for me when no one else did."

"Sunface, I always cared for you," Firebelly mewed, nuzzling her son gently, "Even when you were away, I still prayed to StarClan for your safe return."

"Well, except for you, Mother," Sunface murmured.

"Sunface, I think it's great that you want to go with Riversong, but what about Clan loyalty? What about DuskClan?" Sleetfur asked. She licked Ashkit, who had begun to squeak and mew for attention.

"I have no Clan loyalty left for this place," growled Sunface. Scars sat off to the side, but it was clear that the badger was very interested.

Heavenstep sighed softly. She scented the air. "Something you need, Seedgrowth?" she asked offhandedly.

"I need you, Sunface, Sleetfur, Creekflow, Blacktip, Birdpaw, Mousepaw, Blazepaw, and Fishpaw," Seedgrowth meowed, "Healingtouch says we're going to help Riversong start her new Clan."

"I'm coming too!" Firebelly mewed, "You'll need a queen or two. I may not be young, but if StarClan will not allow me to kit any more, at least I'll be there to help young queens."

"Take me!" Racefoot added, "I'm Birdpaw's mentor. She'll need me to be there for her."

"Don't forget about Blazepaw!" Quartzfur meowed, "I'm her mentor. She's coming along so well! I can't just let some other cat take over." He paused, then added, "No offense or anything, it's just that switching mentors is very confusing for an apprentice."

Soon every warrior was giving their reasons why they should follow Riversong.

"I can be a queen too! I'll raise the strongest kits around!" Heavenstep cried.

"I can train apprentices like no tomorrow. I bet I could even take two at once!" Willowclaw meowed

"I hate Brightstar! He's turned into such a mouse-brained fool," Racefoot muttered.

The voices spun around and around in Seedgrowth's head until Trueheart yowled, "Silence!" Quiet fell instantly. "Seedgrowth said he needed certain cats. Only those cats will go. Understood?"

"Actually, Trueheart," Seedgrowth mewed, "Some of them had a point. I think we should switch some of the cats around to give Riverstar's new Clan a good chance."

Cats murmured amongst themselves at his statement. Riverstar? Was he willing to accept Riversong as leader already? Sunface stepped forward. "I'm going, no matter what you say," he declared, "Riversong is my best friend."

"And mine!" Sleetfur added. Shadowkit mewed in confusion. What was his mother talking about?

Trueheart scanned the ranks. "Would you like my help?" he asked Seedgrowth. The young medicine cat nodded. "All right. Sunface, Sleetfur, Firebelly, Blacktip, Racefoot, Heavenstep, Quartzfur, Creekflow, Birdpaw, Mousepaw, Fishpaw, and Blazepaw. You will go with Seedgrowth."

The mentors of Mousepaw and Fishpaw, Moonstream and Mudslide, raised their voices. They weren't about to let their apprentices be trained by another warrior. Longfang tried to restore peace. "I'm sure Rivershong can find them a great cat to finish their training."

"But you don't understand," Mudslide persisted, "Mousepaw has some kind of learning problem. You have to teach things to her in a sort of backwards way for her to get it."

"And Fishpaw's hard to manage. He's everywhere at once," Moonstream meowed, "I don't think any other cat could possibly handle him."

Before long, the warriors' den was a full-blast argument. The warriors told each other that they were going and not the other. Seedgrowth's eyes stretched wide with terror. Finally, Trueheart let out a thunderous caterwaul. The warriors froze. Trueheart's golden gaze swept across them all like that of a stern father.

"Listen you lot," he growled, "I want to go with Riversong. But it's obvious we can't all go. We would shame StarClan. This is final. The cats to join Riversong's new Clan are as follows: Sunface. Sleetfur and her kits. Firebelly. Blacktip. Creekflow. Racefoot. Quartzfur. Heavenstep. Birdpaw. Fishpaw. Blazepaw. Mousepaw. Seedgrowth. The rest of you will remain here."

The older warriors stepped forward. Longfang was obviously their spokescat. "Look, Trueheart. We've been talking about thish whole thing. We've deshided that at leasht two of the shenior warriorsh should go sho that we can aid Rivershong with our wishdom."

Trueheart sighed. This was going to take a while. "All right. Who did you pick?" he asked exasperatedly.

"Myshelf, and poshibly Mudshlide if you'll let him come."

"Very well. The nineteen of you go." Trueheart sighed once more. "We'll miss you. May StarClan light your path."

The warriors padded from their den, joined by the apprentices. They watched their Clanmates leave. The group of Riversong's new warriors slipped into the shadows of the night and were gone.